On the occasion of two-thousandth anniversary celebrations of the death of the first emperor of Rome, the marble masterpiece Augustus of Prima Porta will return to the Vatican Museums following its great public success in exhibitions in Rome and Paris. Visitors can admire the sculpture temporarily located at the entrance of the Gregorian Profane Museum. "1000 kg of marble in movement"

The Vatican reveals the Necropolis of the Via TriumphalisA 'little Pompei' of tombs in Rome at the time of Augustus

The Roman-age archaeological excavations which extend below the whole of the Vatican hill is again visible to the public – extended, refurbished and transformed into a museum replete with walkways and multi-media educational apparatus. In the new year it is possible to walk through the burial chambers, accompanied by an expert multi-lingual guide, among small mausoleums, finely sculpted sarcophagi, statues, mouldings, mosaics, frescoes and bas-reliefs with epigraphs describing the lives of those who repose at the foot of the ancient hill. [More]Book your guided tour online

The Vatican Museums open up to "popular" art

These are the words with which Pope Francis blessed the two iron sculptures produced using recycled waste materials by the Argentine artist Alejandro Marmo: "They are a sign of the creativity of which we are capable, even using abandoned raw materials. They are a symbol of the genius that God has wished to place in the mind of an artist". The works, depicting Christ as a worker and a reproduction of the Virgin of Luján, will shortly be installed in the Vatican Gardens. Genesis of the works - Papal blessing of the works

Greetings from the Director

Dear Visitors, firstly, a cordial welcome from the Director of the Vatican Museums. Second, you are entering into one of the most important sites for the history of human... [Continues]